Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office DepartmentHolbrook, James
History
Ten Years Among the Mail Bags: Or, Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post-Office Department
Holbrook, James
Postal service -- United States
Further comment on this case is unnecessary; and we would only say
that any one suspecting an imposture in any such mode as the
foregoing, need not be prevented from indulging in a reasonable
suspicion, by the charitable thought, "This person could not be such a
rascal;" for it is a truth that should be well known and acted upon,
that no amount of hypocrisy, deceit or audacity is too great to be
practised by miscreants like those whose villanous devices are to some
extent exposed in these pages.
* * * * *
THE ONION SEED TRICK.
"If you have tears, prepare to shed them now."
The next ingenious "dodge" to which I would call the attention of my
readers, is one which might be styled double-barreled, inasmuch as it
brought down both editors and farmers simultaneously.
The agricultural portion of community has been much exercised of late
years on the subject of seed. Astounding stories have circulated
through the newspapers from time to time, concerning the wonderful
prolific powers of certain kinds of seed, and prices have in some
instances been demanded for these choice varieties, which remind one
of the times when a laying hen of the right breed would earn more per
day for her owner than an ordinarily smart negro. It really seemed to
be the belief of many enthusiastic persons, that seed could be
brought, by careful culture, to a pitch of perfection that would
almost render it independent of the assistance of mother earth, save
as a place to stand on. The improved seed was to do it all. However
desirable it might be to obtain seed which could be warranted under
all circumstances to produce heavy _crops,_ (which of course can
always be done after a certain fashion, by feeding it out to fowls,)
this "good time coming" will not be hastened, we apprehend, by the
public-spirited efforts of "Mr. Joab S. Sargent," notwithstanding the
glowing prospects held out in the following advertisement:--
FARMERS AND GARDENERS.--ATTENTION!
_Spanish Onion Seeds._
The subscriber will send to any part of the United States and
Canada, a paper of the seeds of the above superior Onion, on the
receipt of ten cents (one dime.)
Farmers and Gardeners, see to it that you secure the best of
seeds. For a mere trifle now, you can put money in your pockets
and fat on your ribs.
Address, JOAB S. SARGENT,
266 Hicks St., Cor. of State,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
P. S.--Publishers of newspapers giving the above and this notice
three insertions, calling attention editorially thereto, and
sending marked copies to the subscriber, will receive by return
mail three dollars' worth of the above seeds, or a copy of Barnes'
notes on the Gospels, valued at three dollars and fifty cents, or
two dollars cash. Address plainly as above.
April 11, 1855.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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